Hershey’s power play shines as they score all three goals on the man advantage for a 3-2 win against the Springfield Thunderbirds. Samsonov is stellar with 31 saves (17 in the third period) to win the game.
Nathan Walker returns to Hershey after being put on waivers on the Washington Capitals. This is his first game with the club since rejoining the Bears. Walker posted only one assist while with the parent club.
Hershey comes into this game with an impressive streak of 32 straight penalty kills. The last time Hershey allowed a power play goal would be on October 19th against the Charlotte Checkers.
1st Period:
Springfield forward Harry Zolniercyzk took a hooking penalty at 5:34 in the first period. On the rush, Shane Gersich led Jayson Megna on a great opportunity, where Megna scored top corner on the glove side of Samuel Montembeault. This goal was on the power play.
Liquid. Hot. MEGNA!
This snipe by @Jayson_Megna gave the Bears an early 1-0 lead! #HBH #DefendTheDen pic.twitter.com/1ccoV2yWhP
— Hershey Bears (@TheHersheyBears) November 11, 2018
Springfield ended up on the penalty kill once again when Julian Melchiori took a delay of game penalty. Hershey set up on the power play and cashed in once again when Garrett Pilon tapped home a rebound, hitting off of Nathan Walker and in the net. There was confusion all night as the goal was credited to Pilon until the final buzzer. The goal could have been Pilon’s first career AHL goal but it must come on another night. However, it was Walker’s first goal of the season on his return to Hershey.
The Thunderbirds answer right back with a blast from Jayce Hawryluk. He snipes a shot past Ilya Samsonov’s glove on a slap shot. This cuts the lead down to one going into the second period.
1st Period Shots: HER – 5, SPR – 8
1st Period Scoring:
HER: 6:46 – Jayson Megna(2) ASST: Shane Gersich(5), Connor Hobbs(8)(PP)
HER: 12:13 – Nathan Walker(1) ASST: Garrett Pilon(5), Riley Barber(5)(PP)
SPR: 14:17 – Jayce Hawryluk(2) ASST: Julian Melchiori(2)
Second Period:
The second period was filled with neutral zone play and trading penalties. Half way through the period, Hershey got a great scoring chance while on the power play. Springfield goalie Samuel Montembeault made a save and lost the puck. It would bounce behind him and land on the goal line. Both teams scrambled but the puck eventually was pulled out of the crease and down the ice.
One period left to try and take home 2 points. #RiseUp pic.twitter.com/rAoMQOuZya
— Springfield Thunderbirds (@ThunderbirdsAHL) November 11, 2018
Late in the period, Springfield’s Paul Thompson tripped Mike Sgarbossa putting the Bears on the power play with 39 seconds to play in the second. After the drop of the face-off, Ian McCoshen dumped the puck out of play, causing a delay of game. Hershey goes into the locker room on a long 5 on 3 opportunity to start the third.
2nd Period Shots: HER – 8, SPR – 7
2nd Period Scoring: None
3rd Period:
It took 24 seconds for Hershey to get back on the score board. Riley Barber blasted home a slap shot form the point while on the 5 on 3 power play. The shot went over the glove hand of Montembeault and into the net.
A 💣 BY 💈!
3-1 Bears with 13:59 left in regulation! #HBH #DefendTheDen pic.twitter.com/taw6vYr9Gh
— Hershey Bears (@TheHersheyBears) November 11, 2018
While back to even strength, Liam O’Brien was looking for a cross the blue line pass to his teammate, but the pass would get intercepted and lead to a breakaway for Springfield. Samsonov made the original save but while collecting the rebound, the puck made its way to Thomas Schemitsch and in the back of the net. Hershey’s lead was cut to one, 3-2 Bears.
Springfield had two great chances to tie the game with both chances getting reviewed. First opportunity, the puck hit off of the inside cross bar and out and the second chance was throw off of Samsonov’s back, on the goal line and kept out by Tyler Lewington. Lewington was the hero, keeping the lead for Hershey and eventually winning the game.
Bears hang on and win 3-2. This is how close it came to being tied in the final minutes. pic.twitter.com/q534XmQvke
— Corey Swartz (@FPHBears) November 11, 2018
3rd Period Shots: HER – 4, SPR – 17
Total Shots: HER – 17, SPR – 32
3rd Period Scoring:
HER – 0:24 – Riley Barber(4) ASST: Mike Sgarbossa(4), Garrett Pilon(6)(PP)
SPR – 10:10 – Thomas Schemitsch(1) ASST: Joel Lowry(9), Henrik Borgstrom(8)
Three Stars:
- HER – Ilya Samsonov – 31 saves
- HER – Jayson Megna – 1 goal
- HER – Garrett Pilon – 2 assists
